Mfa Nation 2016 a Compendium of Graduate Programs in Creative Writing
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MFA NATION 2016 A COMPENDIUM OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN CREATIVE WRITING Page With the number of MFA programs climbing higher every year, it seems there is now a creative writing program to fit just about every aesthetic principle, curricular framework, geographic preference, and financial need. Any writer who wants to 2 pursue a graduate degree can likely find several that fit the bill—and you don’t Full-Residency necessarily need an expert to tell you which ones are the best. For five years Detailed information Poets & Writers Magazine published the results of annual surveys of current MFA about 129 programs, students as well as data publicly released by the programs themselves. The MFA including core faculty, Index, as it came to be known, put into context the variables every prospective funding, tuition, teaching student encounters when choosing among the programs and laid the groundwork opportunities, special for the following listings. features, application fee, Comparing data sets and popularity surveys is one way to approach and ap- deadlines, and more. preciate the astonishing diversity of MFA programs in this country. Another way is to present practical, compelling details about as many programs as possible, Page and allow writers to make what is ultimately a subjective decision, determining for themselves which program attributes are most important. That is what we’ve done in the following pages. While we reached out to every known program for 34 information, only those that responded to repeated requests for information are THE MFA MAP included in these listings, which contain only details that could be verified either A regional index of by program administrators or through subsequent research conducted by Poets full- and low-residency & Writers Magazine. Those details include not only the basics of each program, programs, including a such as tuition, funding, faculty, and application fees, but also some of the more cost-of-living analysis. intangible benefits—things like reading series and visiting-writer programs, an- nual conferences and events, opportunities to work with presses and magazines Page or to teach within the greater community—the very things that often define a program’s character. As with our Grants & Awards and Conferences & Residencies sections, which 37 appear in every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, MFA Nation is designed to Low-Residency give readers enough information for them to determine whether further research of Detailed information about a program is necessary. Those considering embarking on an MFA should always 44 programs, including carefully weigh the available options and make an informed decision based on residency location, core a personal set of priorities. The reasons we write—as well as the results—are faculty, funding, tuition, unique to each of us; the same could be said of one’s approach to a writing application fee, deadlines, education. In the end, as we’ve always said, it’s up to you to decide which one of and more. these programs is right for you. MFA PROGRAMS POETS & WRITERS MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES application information for full- and low-residency MFA programs in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Only programs that responded to repeated requests for information are included in the listings, which contain only details that could be verified either by program administrators or through research conducted byPoets & Writers Magazine. Before applying, first contact the program for complete guidelines as well as a checklist of required application materials and additional fees. See the MFA Map for a list of programs arranged by region. Full-Residency Adelphi University in Garden The core faculty includes poets Kyle Arizona State University in City, New York Dargan and David Keplinger, fiction Tempe This two-year program, founded in writers Stephanie Grant and Richard This three-year program, founded in 2004, offers degrees in poetry, fiction, McCann, and nonfiction writer Rachel 1985, offers degrees in poetry and fic- and creative nonfiction, and accepts 8 Louise Snyder. The program hosts a tion, and accepts 10 new students each to 10 new students each year. The core year. The core faculty includes poets visiting writing series through which faculty includes poets Judith Baumel Sally Ball, Norman Dubie, Beckian Fritz writers and editors lead small workshops and Jacqueline Jones LaMon, fiction Goldberg, Cynthia Hogue, T. R. Hum- writer Martha Cooley, nonfiction writer and give public lectures and readings. mer, Alberto Ríos, and Jeannine Savard; Kermit Frazier, and fiction and nonfic- Other features include courses in liter- and fiction writers Matt Bell, Tara Ison, tion writers Catherine Chung and Igor ary journalism, poetry translation, and T. M. McNally, Melissa Pritchard, and Webb. The program hosts the reading teaching composition; the student-run Jewell Parker Rhodes. The program is series Conversations and the Soapbox literary journal Folio; the student-run associated with the Virginia G. Piper series, which brings writers to campus to online literary journal Café Américain; Center for Creative Writing, which discuss writing and contemporary politi- internships with 826DC, the Library of hosts the Distinguished Visiting Writers cal issues. Other features include the Series and the annual Desert Nights, Congress, the National Endowment for online literary journal Village of Crickets Rising Stars Conference. Other features and opportunities to meet with agents, the Arts, the PEN/Faulkner Founda- include the MFA Reading Series, the stu- editors, and arts administrators. Annual tion, Writopia Labs, and other literary dent-run literary journal Hayden’s Ferry tuition is $22,200. Up to six creative arts organizations; teaching internships Review, and opportunities to work with writing fellowships, which include a full and internships with the writing center; Four Way Books and participate in com- tuition waiver, and up to six teaching and the opportunity to earn a graduate munity outreach activities such as teach- assistantships worth $8,200 each are certificate in arts administration. Annual ing creative writing in prison. Annual available each year. Additional paid op- tuition is $27,468. Up to six half-tuition in-state tuition is $10,610; out-of-state portunities are available for work as an waivers or three three-quarter-tuition tuition is $19,530. Up to 10 teaching or office assistant or writing tutor. Submit research assistantships, which include a waivers are available each year; students application materials with a $50 applica- full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a tion fee (fee waivers are available) by the who work full-time in non-teaching $15,000 stipend each, are available each priority deadline of January 15, 2016; positions at the university are eligible year. Submit application materials with regular admissions are made thereafter for a partial tuition waiver worth $8,640 a $70 application fee by January 1, 2016. on a rolling basis. Call, e-mail, or visit each semester. To apply for a merit Call, e-mail, or visit the website for com- the website for complete requirements award, submit application materials with plete requirements and guidelines. and guidelines. a $55 application fee by January 15, Arizona State University, Creative Writ- Adelphi University, Creative Writing MFA 2016; regular admissions are made on ing Program, English Department, P.O. Program, English Department, Harvey a rolling basis. Call, e-mail, or visit the Box 870302, Tempe, AZ 85287. (480) Hall 216, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, 965-3528. Corey Campbell, Program NY 11530. (516) 877-4030. Igor Webb, website for complete requirements and guidelines. Manager. [email protected] Director. [email protected] english.clas.asu.edu/creativewriting academics.adelphi.edu/artsci/creativewriting American University, MFA Program in Boise State University in Idaho Creative Writing, CAS/Literature, Battelle American University in This three-year program, founded in Tompkins, Room 237, 4400 Massachu- Washington, D.C. 1999, offers degrees in poetry and fic- This two- to three-year program, setts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. tion, and accepts five to six new students founded in 1980, offers degrees in 20016. (202) 885-2971. Kyle Dargan, each year. The core faculty includes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, Program Director. [email protected] poets Martin Corless-Smith and Janet and accepts 12 new students each year. www.american.edu/cas/literature/mfa Holmes, and fiction writers Brady POETS & WRITERS 2 MFA PROGRAMS Udall and Mitch Wieland. The visiting ruary 1, 2016. For regular applications, in-state tuition is $7,650; out-of-state faculty member for Fall 2015 is fiction submit materials with an $80 application tuition is $14,040. Teaching positions writer Denis Johnson; for Spring 2016, fee by February 15, 2016. Call, e-mail, or worth $3,800 per course are available visit the website for complete require- after a student’s first semester. Up to 30 the visiting faculty member will be poet Full-Residency Pierre Joris. The program hosts a read- ments and guidelines. departmental scholarships worth $1,000 ing series and recently held an interna- Boston University, Creative Writing Pro- to $6,000 each are available each year. tional conference on Ezra Pound. Other gram, 236 Bay State Road, Boston, MA Submit application materials with a $125 features include internships with Idaho 02215. (617) 353-2510. Catherine F. Con, application fee by January 15, 2016. Call, Review and opportunities to work with Administrative Coordinator. e-mail, or visit the website for complete Ahsahta Press. Annual in-state tuition [email protected] requirements and guidelines. and fees is $4,768; out-of-state tuition bu.edu/creativewriting Brooklyn College, English Department, and fees is $18,818. All students receive Brigham Young University in 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY either a teaching or graduate assistant- Provo, Utah 11210. (718) 951-5197. Bonnie Harris ship, which includes a full tuition waiver, MFA Administrator. This two-year program, founded in health benefits, and a $10,500 stipend.